Annual Film Festivals
Winter
Scandinavian Film Festival
Jan 6-21. Writers Guild Theater. "Top films from the top of Europe," back for its 19th year.
LA Dance Film Festival
Jan 25. Los Feliz 3 Theatre. Features filmmakers from around the world exploring different genres of film that utilize dance as the main storytelling component.
The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival
Feb 7-27. Multiple venues, including Arclight Hollywood. New feature films, documentaries, shorts and videos by filmmakers who possess an independent vision and create innovative work outside the studio system.
The Pan African Film Festival
Feb 8-19. Cinemark Baldwin Hills. Showcases the broad spectrum of Black creative works.
DocuDay
Feb 25. Writers Guild Theater. Features award-nominated feature and short documentaries with back-to-back screenings all day.
Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest
Feb 25-Mar 3. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. One full week of celebration for the Italian excellences in cinmena, music, fashion and style.
Spring
Indian Film Festival Los Angeles
April 11-15. Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center. Showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. www.indianfilmfestival.org
City of Lights - City of Los Angeles French Film Festival
(COLCOA)
April 23-April 30. Directors Guild of America. The 21st Annual festival will have an exclusive program of 70+ French Films this year. www.colcoa.org
TCM Classic Film Festival
April 26 - 29. Various locations. Where movie lovers from around the world can gather to experience classic movies as they were meant to be experienced: on the big screen, in some of the world's most iconic venues, with the people who made them. filmfestival.tcm.com
Apr 26-May 3 at multiple venues in Newport Beach. Orange County's largest entertainment event. www.newportbeachfilmfest.com
May 3-12 at multiple venues. Since 1983, the LAAP Film Fest has presented nearly 4,000 films, videos and digital media works by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists. www.festival.vconline.org/2018/
Summer
Los Angeles Film Festival
June 14-22 at ArcLight Hollywood. Showcases independent TV and film from emerging storytellers.
Annual Haiti Film Festival
June 17 at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. Showcases Haitian art and films.
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
July 7-17 at various venues. The leading organization that promotes equality through film. Festival includes short and feature films, panels, workshops and parties that highlight and celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community.
Annual Los Angeles Dog Film Festival
Aug 5 at Writers Guild Theater. Although there are no dogs allowed at this theater, there will be a Pooch Party on Aug 4 at Only in Beverly Hills, a dog-loving boutique.
Hollyshorts Film Festival
Aug 10-19 at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Showcases the best and brightest short films from around the globe. Devoted to the advancement filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events.
168 Film Festival
August 26-27 at Regal Cinemas Premiere House at LA Live. Short films competing to become a feature film.
Long Beach Indie Film Festival
Aug 30-Sept 3 at Cinemark at the Pike Theaters. The festival will feature a five-day international entertainment experience and a career fair for young artists looking for careers in entertainment, arts and digital media.
Cinecon Classic Film Festival
Aug 31-Sep 4 at the Egyptian Theater. Features rare, unusual and unjustly forgotten movies from the silent and early sound era with celebrity guests and film, book and movie memorabilia shows. Silent films include a live piano to accompany the movie.
Burbank International Film Festival
Sept 6-10 at various venues. Over 100 films from 31 countries, 25 world premieres, 22 award categories and opening and closing night screenings.
Los Angeles Lift Off Film Festival
Sept 11-15 at Raleigh Studios. Screening days packed with film and multiple lengths, genres, nationalities and style-a pure homage to the excellence of today's grassroots filmmakers.
Fall
Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival
Sep 21-30. Various venues in downtown including Regal LA Live. Reflects DTL.A's vibrant new urbanism.
Beyond Fest 2017
Sep 29-Oct 10. Egyptian Theatre. The highest attended genre film festival in Southern California with horror, sci-fi and fantasy cinema.
Real to Reel Global Youth Film Festival
Oct 7. Los Angeles Film School. The festival will screen a diverse slate of short films by young filmmakers from different countries.
New Urbanism Film Festival
Oct 19-22. Acme Theatre, 135 N. la Brea. The only film festival that addresses urban design from the pedestrian level to inspire civic activism.
San Fernando Valley International Film Festival
Oct 18-22. Laemmle NoHo 7. "Cinema so independent it can only be found in the (818)."
Hollywood Film Festival
Oct 19-28. Various venues. Showcasing independent filmmakers, cultural content creators and social impact storytellers from the very heart of Hollywood.
Scream Fest Horror Film Festival
Oct 10-19. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. The largest and longest running horror film festival in the U.S. Discovering the new blood of horror and honoring the masters.
German Currents 10th Annual Festival of German Film
Oct 13-16. Egyptian Theatre. A varied selection of present-day German cinema includes features, documentary and short films as well as a family youth film.
Recent Spanish Cinema Festival
Oct 19-22. Egyptian Theatre. Showcase of the best films and brightest talents in contemporary Spanish cinema.
Hollywood Film Festival
Oct 19-28. 7083 Hollywood Blvd. Presents a unique combination of socially conscious filmmakers, emerging artists and master storytellers.
WIND International Film Festival
Oct 20-22. 6355 Bellingham Ave, North Hollywood. An open gate to the Oscars for women and people of diverse backgrounds.
International ARPA Film Festival
Nov 3-5. Egyptian Theatre. Forum for international and local filmmakers who explore such issues as diaspora, war, genocide, dual-identity, exile and multiculturalism.
Guadalajara International Film Festival
Nov 3-5. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. A window into the world of contemporary Mexican and Ibero-American cinema.
Red Nation Film Festival
Nov 8-18. Laemmle Monica Film Center. The only film competition in the world that offers guaranteed distribution of American Indian & Indigenous Award winning indie films.
Annual Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival
Nov 9-12. ArcLight Theatre. Showcases the best and most recent selection of Brazilian films with a diverse mix of 23 feature films and shorts.
AFI Fest
Nov 9-16. Chinese 6 Theatres and Egyptian Theatre. International cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Films categories of the annual Academy Awards®. Free Tickets.
LA Skins Fest
Nov 14-19. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Over 50 films that represent hundreds of Native American tribes.